29 Feb 2024

Botswana has made significant strides in environmental conservation and sustainable development.

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi told the Sixth Session United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) high-level opening segment in Nairobi,Kenya, yesterday that in responding to the global call for action on planetary survival, Botswana had taken steps in the right direction.

“We are making strides towards transitioning from coal-fired plants for generating electricity to embracing alternative renewable energy sources. 

As part of implementing the Energy Policy and Renewable Energy Strategy my government has made a decision to increase renewable energy penetration from two to 30 per cent by 2030,” he said.

President Masisi said this would be achieved through the implementation of solar photovoltaic, concentrated solar plants and wind energy projects and would double the Nationally Determined Contributions target to show ambition.

He said government had approved the Integrated Waste Management Policy, which calls for a paradigm shift from linear to circular economy concept, which promotes waste recovery, reuse and recycling.

“By turning waste into economic goods will not only be addressing environmental challenges, but also socio-economic factors through job creation and income generation for the communities, thereby allowing nature to recover. 

Furthermore, Botswana is reinforcing its commitment to a circular economy by developing the Waste Management Value Chain Roadmap to enhance the understanding of the circular economy concept and business opportunities in the waste value chains,” he added.

In terms of pollution, President Masisi said some work, which had already been done, was the development of a strategy for management of electronic waste and working with the Dental Association of Botswana on the elimination of mercury in dental amalgam.

He said the removal of mercury was in line with the Minamata Convention in recognition of the pollution threat that the chemical posed to the environment.

President Masisi said similar to many countries worldwide, Botswana was not immune to prevalent global environmental challenges.

He said the challenges were linked to various factors including socio-economic development as evidenced by the expansion of industrial sector, mining activities, commercial centres and the ongoing urbanisation within the country.

He said such were coupled with shifting lifestyle patterns and consumer habits, which served as significant driving forces for environmental degradation, mostly littering. Ends